TX - Council member proposes new ordinance to place signs at sex offenders homes

Original Article (Video available)

05/27/2014

By Daniela Fierro

LAREDO (KGNS) - A city leader is proposing an idea to put signs in the yards of local sex offenders, to identify where they live.

Enter your county on the state sex offenders registry and it'll show you the names and addresses of all the people on that list.

But according to Councilman for District 1, Mike Garza, it's not enough and local families need more protection.

He also hopes a new ordinance will provide that.

Arturo Calabaza is a father of two, he is concerned about the possibility of a sex offender living in his neighborhood.

That could be a reality with a new proposal made by Councilman Garza.

He wants to place signs on the sex offender's property, but there are some legal issues.

Currently sex offenders have to register either with the county of Laredo Police Department.

Webb County probation officer Robbie Adams has to keep track of 60 local sex offenders.

But not all the cases have the same requirements.

The Department of Public Safety Registry shows 198 registered sex offenders in Webb county alone.

And with this new plan, Councilman Garza is hoping more people will be aware.

Garza says he got the idea from a community in Florida.

But for Arturo, the proposal hits close to home, and hopes it becomes a reality.

TX - Midland Man (Joe Garza) Addresses City Council For New Sex Offender Ordinance

Joe Garza

Original Article

04/09/2014

By Justin Kree

MIDLAND - It's a story NewsWest 9 has been following since the beginning. A registered sex offender caught twice masturbating in a Midland neighborhood, in front of the same family.

"I want a law to pass, or something to pass for all these sexual predators to have a sign posted in front of their house, or if they live in an apartment complex to put in front of the door. We need to protect our children," Joe Garza said.

Joe Garza is on a mission to make sex offenders like _____, more visible in the community.

On March 10th, _____ was arrested for masturbating across the street from Garza's home, in plain sight of his 5 year old daughter.

NewsWest 9 has been following this story, we first spoke to Joe and his wife, Sandra a few weeks ago when this happened.

_____ was arrested again on April 3 committing the same act.

Mayor Jerry Morales addressed Garza's concerns at Tuesday's meeting.

"What will happen is legal will do the research on that and give us an opinion on if we have any jurisdiction on that, creating those types of ordinances. There still a lot of research to do on that law. We definitely want to take the seriousness of that issue and see what legal has to say about it." Mayor, Morales said.

"I'm glad that he recognized what was going on and that I brought it to their attention. Hopefully the city council can see that we need to change something for the children," Garza said.

So what are the restrictions placed on sex offenders living near a school zone?

"They cannot be within a 1000 feet. If they live within a 1000 feet of the time of their offense, they can live there but under severe restrictions," Sheriff, Painter said.

Midland County's Sheriff, Gary Painter says if sex offenders are allowed free they must fill out this pre-release notification form which goes into extensive detail.

Authorities keep an even closer eye on sex offenders when Halloween rolls around.

"If they are at home, their light cannot be on. We'll go around, we'll make contact with all of our offenders to make sure they are compliant with the law. Also make sure there are no kids at the residence or coming up to the residence," Painter said.

As far as Garza's idea for putting up signs in a sex offender's yard, Mayor Morales believes it's a good idea.

"Most definitely, if any constituents can speak their mind, we are definitely going to listen. We want to take a matter of that magnitude very seriously and so we will get some good definite answers," Morales said.